1._Jehovah is my light. _This commencement may be understood as meaning that David, having already experienced God’s mercy, publishes a testimony of his gratitude. But I rather incline to another meaning, namely, that, perceiving the conflict he had to wage with the sharpest temptations, he fortifie... [ Continue Reading ]
2._When the wicked, etc. _There is no reason for translating this sentence, as some interpreters do, into the future tense. (579) But while we retain the past tense which the prophet employs, the words may be explained in a twofold manner. The meaning but in the prophetic writings it is often used f... [ Continue Reading ]
3._Though armies should encamp. _He infers from his former experience, as I have already mentioned, that whatever adversity may befall him, he ought to hope well, and to have no misgivings about the divine protection, which had been so effectually vouchsafed to him in his former need. He had asserte... [ Continue Reading ]
4._One thing have I desired. _Some consider this as a prophecy of the perpetuity of David’s kingdom, on which not only his own personal happiness depended, but also the happiness of his whole people; as if he had said, I am so well contented with this singular proof of God’s favor, that I can think... [ Continue Reading ]
5._For he shall hide me in his tent. _Here the Psalmist promises himself that his prayer would not be in vain. Although he is deprived of the visible sanctuary for a time, he doubts not that, wherever he may be, he shall experience the protecting power of God. And he alludes to the temple, because i... [ Continue Reading ]
6._And I will offer sacrifices of triumph _(583) _in his tabernacle. _By making a solemn vow of thanksgiving, after he shall have been delivered from dangers, he confirms himself again in the hope of deliverance. The faithful under the Law, we know, were wont, by a solemn rite, to pay their vows, wh... [ Continue Reading ]
7._Hear, O Jehovah! my voice. _The Psalmist returns again to prayer, and in doing so, he declares with what armor he was furnished to break through his temptations. By the word _cry, _he expresses his vehemence, as I have elsewhere said, that he may thereby move God the sooner to help him. For the s... [ Continue Reading ]
8._My heart said to thee. _The change of person in the verbs has occasioned a variety of interpretations of this verse. But whoever closely examines David’s design will perceive that the text runs perfectly well. As it becomes us not rashly to rush into the presence of God, until he first calls us,... [ Continue Reading ]
9._Hide not thy face from me. _The Psalmist elegantly continues the same form of speech, but with a different meaning. _The face of God _is now employed to describe the sensible effects of his grace and favor: as if it had been said, Lord, make me truly to experience that thou hast been near to me,... [ Continue Reading ]
10._When my father and my mother shall forsake me. _As it appears from the sacred history, that Jesse, so far as his opportunity admitted, performed his duty to his son David, some are of opinion that the nobles and councillors are here mentioned allegorically; but this is not suitable. Nor is it wi... [ Continue Reading ]
11._Teach me thy way, O Jehovah! _Many think that David here requests that God would guide him by his Spirit, lest he should surpass his enemies in acting violently and wickedly. This doctrine is, no doubt, very useful, but it does not seem to agree with the scope of the passage. It is a simpler int... [ Continue Reading ]
12._Give me not up to the desire of mine oppressors. _The Hebrew noun נפש, _nephesh, _signifies _lust, will, _or _desire; _and the language of David implies, Deliver me not up to the pleasure or lust of mine enemies, and thus he intimates, that they greedily gaped for his destruction. God delivers h... [ Continue Reading ]
13._Unless I had believed to see the goodness of Jehovah. _It is generally agreed among interpreters, that this sentence is incomplete. Some, however, are of opinion, that the Hebrew particle לולא _lulë, _is used for the purpose of affirmation, as if it were a species of oath; the Hebrews being accu... [ Continue Reading ]
14._Wait thou on Jehovah. _It may be doubted whether David, having in the preceding verses spoken of himself, here addresses his discourse to others, and exhorts them by his own example to fortitude and persevering patience, as he does in the conclusion of Psalms 31:19, where, after speaking concern... [ Continue Reading ]